Sergeant Major of 4th Recruit Training Battalion

Sergeant Major Robin C. Fortner
Sergeant Major, 4th Recruit Training Battalion

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

Sgt. Maj. Robin C. Fortner is a 1989 graduate of Hillcrest High School in New York.

In August 1990, she enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., where she was meritoriously promoted to private first class.  Fortner was transferred to Camp Lejeune, N.C., to attend the Basic Supply Warehousing School and obtain the military occupational specialty of warehouse clerk.  Fortner graduated at the top of her class and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of lance corporal in January 1991. After completion of school, Fortner’s first assignment was 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

During her tour, Fortner worked primarily in the security cage of the Supported Activities Supply System Management Unit and as a military policeman.  She was meritoriously promoted to the rank of corporal in June 1992 and later transferred to Marine Air Traffic Control Squadron 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Okinawa, Japan. While serving as the warehouse chief, Fortner began cross training into the supply administration and operations specialist field and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of sergeant in February 1994.   

In June 1994, Fortner was transferred to Marine Air Control Squadron 6, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, N.C., and was soon temporarily assigned to Inspector/Instructor Staff, 6th Communication Battalion, in Brooklyn, N.Y.  During this tenure, she served in various billets to include supply chief, color sergeant and armorer.  Fortner returned to Marine Air Control Squadron 2 in August 1995 to serve as a supply administrative clerk/chief.  She was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant in March 1998.  

In June 1999, reported to Weapons and Field Training Battalion, MCRD Parris Island, S.C., to serve as a primary marksmanship instructor.  After graduating No. 1 in PMI school, she trained both male and female recruits in the basic fundamentals of marksmanship.  Fortner would achieve the billet of chief instructor before reporting to Parris Island’s Drill Instructor School in April 2001. 

Fortner graduated as honor graduate, and assigned to Company O, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, where she completed eight training cycles -- four as a drill instructor, one as a senior drill instructor and three as a series gunnery sergeant. In September 2002, Fortner was promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant and also served as company first sergeant for Headquarters Company.   

After a successful drill instructor tour, Fortner transferred to Okinawa, Japan, and was assigned to the logistics department of 3rd Marine Logistics Group as the supply chief and supply analyst.  During this tour, she deployed several times to Korea, in addition to serving with Joint Task Force 536 to Colombo, Sri Lanka, in January 2005.   

Fortner attained the rank of first sergeant and reported to Headquarters Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, in May 2006. Fortner was later transferred to 9th Communication Battalion, I MEF Headquarters Group, Camp Pendleton, Calif., in July 2007 and assigned as the first sergeant of Alpha Company.  She deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the senior enlisted advisor for Detachment 08-02.  She also deployed again as company first sergeant in 2010 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.   

Upon her return in February 2011, Fortner was directed to return to 4th RTBn. in April 2011.